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Alternative for Someone Allergic to Botox?

I am terribly allergic to Botox and have deep furrows in my forehead. What can I do? I have tried Botox 5+ times each with a different doctor so I am allergic but need help with forehead, glabella lines, etc. Are there any alternatives?

Asked 28 months ago by Cindee200 in Los Angeles

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There are alternatives to Botox

I doubt you are allergic to Botox since 5 doctors injected you with it and you probably never ended up in the hospital with breathing problems or a bad itchy rash. If the Botox doesn't work on you, then that is not an allergy. Dysport ($300-500) is another type of botox like material that is worth trying as long as you didn't breakout in hives or rashes. Fillers like Restylane and Juvederm ($550-600 per syringe) are great for filling in forehead and glabellar creases. Some patients need... more

Doctor's Website

David Hansen, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Allergy to Botox

You say that you have an "allergy to Botox," but you do not state what your allergy is. What symptoms do you experience. It is very unusual for someone to be allergic to Botox. There are other botulinum toxins that you can try such as Dysport. Also, you may want to look into dermal fillers as an alternative or supplement to Botox treatments. Good luck.

Doctor's Website

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Botox allergy alternative for deep forehead furrows

You did not explain the nature of your "terrible" allergy to Botox. Did you develop a rash or did the Botox not help relax the furrows? A true allergy to Botox is quite rare. It may be beneficial to skin test you to see if you are reacting to components in the saline or if you have a true allergy to Botox. Another thing to note is that if you indeed have deep forehead furrows, the Botox alone may not have made the furrows go away but just softened them a little. Typically, for... more

Anifat Balogun, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Try Non-preserved Saline

One possiblity is that you might be allergic to the benzyl alcohol which is in the preservative based normal saline. If you break out to other injections in which saline might be used, this possiblity looms greater. Allergy to Botox itself is very rare. It would seem to me that the Botox molecule is so similar to the Dysport molecule that if you broke out to one you would break out to the other. If you are truly allergic and you problem does not stem from the preserved saline, then... more

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Virginia Beach Dermatologist

Alternatives to Botox

There is another product called Dysport which works the same way. Whether or not it is suitable for you depends upon the nature of your allergic reaction; some people use that term when it is a lack of response. In rare cases, the body does form antibodies that neutralize the product. Normally an allergic reaction means hives, itching, things like that. If that is the case then it might be risky since the products are very similar. I would suggest that you contact someone who does Dysport... more

Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Testing by an allergist might be beneficial

It is worth emphasizing that allergies to Botox are rare but not unheard of. It is worth knowing how you are terribly allergic to BOTOX. Do you develop a rash? Generally, immunological reaction to BOTOX that is seen is blocking antibodies to BOTOX rendering the BOTOX ineffective. However, if you are developing a rash, it is possible that you are allergic to something other than the BOTOX itself. BOTOX also contains human albumin. The saline used to reconstitute the product may contain... more